Time Does Heal. A Collection of Poems by Julie Day.

Time Does Heal.  A Collection of Poems by Julie Day.

"Life has no meaning when it's devoid of love/ Love is, in fact, what we're all searching for."


Julie Day enlightens us with an interesting and positive approach to the tragic end of a relationship and how to deal with the heartache. "Time will heal" is the ultimate answer, a reassurance that it does because for the writer, she has become whole once more.  And for anyone who has suffered similar break-ups you should feel reassured by this anthology of thirty short verses. Young teenagers embracing their first love affair, diving into the unknown with hormones racing all over the place will seek solace in the poet's advice: "Love yourself/ Love who you are/ Love to love/And you'll go far." Julie Day has plenty of gems to offer to ease the heartache so don't despair. She offers an abundance of sound advice.

The verses are all extremely personal and document the stages of heartbreak. "Reality's Sinking in" is where we begin. "What am I gonna do?" I like the colloquial, informal tone the persona has adopted to address her audience. Adjustments are imperative, a "fresh new start" is paramount after the break-up, especially if it is unexpected as this was. "Time to begin again." This is what most people find daunting especially those who have been in a long-term relationship. Not easy is it? There is an acceptance within the verse that the relationship has actually ended and the final verse suggests a down-to-earth approach, a realisation that you have to learn from your mistakes so that “next time {you} get it right.” And if you do? Yes, you will “find the one destined” to be yours! “The perfect one.” Four easy-to-read quatrains with a regular rhyme scheme, something that many of the poems have in common.

“Get back Up” sounds like an imperative from a detective series like Lewis and uses a touch of humour, bereft in the context of a break-up. It won’t go amiss will it? The sentiment expressed here uses the vernacular-almost-with the “frigging pits” rhyming with “having the shits.” Heartbreak is “a thousand times worse.” The bottom line is that if you don’t get back-up “A broken heart could be with you always,” and we don’t want a melancholic, manic-depressive do we? “Torment” is a powerful emotive word to explain how it feels when you cry non-stop with the pain and suffering, enough to drive you crazy. Positive strength and determination are needed to get over this emotional crisis.


“Gotta pick myself up, get my life back on track.” “A New Chapter” adopts a slightly different structure with full rhymes and half-rhymes. Is it the end or the beginning? It’s the same notion as one door closing whilst another opens.  When you feel low, as if you’ve lost, the reverse is true: “you’re really winning.”  Obviously a bit of reverse psychology here. “Your heart mends/Its broken parts,” followed by an optimistic “Time will heal.” You’ll survive: “You’ll be okay” expressed in the poet’s down-to-earth style. Love will return one day!

“Heal the Pain” adopts a 5 verse appeal emphasising anger, pain and loss. Repetition is used to stress the heartache and the time element to reflect, nurture and: “feel the hurt/feel the emotion” with the hint of the healing process. In stanza four the key word is “heal,” heal the past, your heart, yesterday (past) in order to “make a brand new start.” The verse ends by emphasising the importance of love.

“Real Happiness” explores what is real and long-lasting. In spite of the attraction of material wealth “owning nice clothes or a brand new car” doesn’t necessarily equate with real happiness. “Choose positively…try not to stress.” Once you attain joy in your heart and peace of mind, it opens doors to discover a true love that will last. The truth means you must love yourself then things will fall into place. “Challenges” explores the cyclical nature of life, its ups and downs, using a metaphor of “wearing smiles, not frowns.”



“Into the Unknown” discusses what happens when we are released from grief and look forward to the future with “renewed vigour.” “Find Your Groove” advises us to embrace change: “Change can be scary but it’s also exciting.” Despair transforms a heartache into hope, trust and faith in “Accept.” Discover other pearls of wisdom for yourself in this collection of poems that will heal your heartache.

“Search your heart for what you should do.” And do it!

Publisher: Createspace (Self-Publishing) ISBN: 978-150-320-4294.
REVIEW it by Carol Naylor.

Copyright 2015. Permission must be obtained from the author before any of this article review is reproduced.

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